Utica graduate earns NCAA All American distinction

Photo by Jeff Payne
Amanda Mergaert flashes a smile while holding the fifth place trophy at the NCAA Track & Field championships, March 9 at the Randal Tyson Track & Field Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Fayetteville, ARK -- Utah senior Amanda Mergaert has a nose for track. Because of it, she is an NCAA All American today.

Mergaert, a Utica High School graduate, placed fifth in the women’s mile at the Division I championships, held March 8-9 at the Randal Tyson Track & Field Center at the University of Arkansas.

After a disappointing junior year that saw Mergaert focus on qualifying for nationals with teammates on the distance medley relay, only to narrowly miss out, her performance at the national meet was gratifying.

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Her finish didn’t come without some uncertainty, however, as she had to rely on a strong kick to earn her place among the elite field.

After a decent start, she fell back to eighth place, the final spot on the medal podium, with less than 400 meters to go. Competing against an elite field that included NCAA outdoor track steeplechase national champion Emma Coburn of Colorado, Mergaert turned in the fastest final 200 meters in the field, grabbing fifth in a time of 4:38.88, less than a half second out of fourth.

“My kick is something that has always come to me,” Mergaert said moments after accepting her All American trophy. “I can always smell the finish line.”

Though beaming, she did regret the race’s middle laps.

“I made a fatal error out there,” she said. “I should have stuck through it on laps six and seven. I had the fastest last 200, I’m fit, I just have to be mentally stronger with people of that caliber.”

Her accomplishment wasn’t lost on her coach.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Amanda,” Utah head coach Kyle Kepler said. “The moment wasn’t too big for her, she handled all the pressure very well. Amanda looks forward to these opportunities and doesn’t focus on what she can’t control. Fifth place is one of the best finishes anyone from Utah has ever had and we are very excited and happy for her.”

The weekend of March 8-9 was not the first time Mergaert has tasted success at the collegiate level as she was an All-American in cross-country, finishing 14th at the national championships last fall and becoming the first Utah runner to honor such an honor in a quarter century.

She will have a chance to improve on her finish at Arkansas this spring when she completes her eligibility as a member of the Utes’ outdoor track squad.

Four years ago, as a decorated member of the Utica Chieftain cross-country and track teams, Mergaert surprised many when she eschewed a host of offers from Midwestern colleges and chose Utah. A 13th place finisher at the Michigan cross-country state finals as a senior, she teamed with Audrey Huth to provide Utica with a potent 1-2 punch.

“I had no family, no friends, no one other than my teammates,” Mergaert said of her move to Salt Lake City as a teen. “It was a lot to handle.”

Fast forward four years, and a lot has changed.

“The city has embraced our team. We get so much support,” she said. “That feels like my home now.”

Still, after she graduates, Mergaert has not ruled out a return to Michigan. With a major in physiology and a minor in chemistry, much will depend upon what career prospects are available.

There’s also one other important variable: “My family misses me,” she said with a smile.